Legislation and Documentation:

Education Act (2004), Amended (2022)

Table of Contents

Policy Statement

The Enrolment Agreement and all related policies provide a comprehensive framework for handling specific events or incidents. The policies cover areas such as financial hardship, misconduct, and disciplinary actions. These policies are available upon request and must be adhered to by all students and guardians.

The purpose of this policy is to provide families with information regarding:

●     the purpose and structure of school fees

●     the application fee

●     the admission fee

●     Books & Stationery Charge

●     Excursions & Outdoor Activities Charge

●     the bus fee

●     payment methods

●     responsibilities and requirements in regard to school fees.

This Enrolment Agreement is a contract between Taqwa School and the parents/guardians of the student named on the attached Enrolment Form. The parents/guardians have accepted the School’s offer of enrolment of the student at Taqwa School. By signing this Agreement both parties agree to the terms and conditions set out herein thereby forming a legally binding contract.

Taqwa School is a not-for-profit organisation. All fees collected support the delivery of education services for students. School fees are set by the Taqwa School Board after consultation with the Principal. All fees are reviewed annually by the Board and are subject to reasonable changes. With this in mind it is Taqwa School’s mission to provide the community with a quality education environment while keeping fees as low as possible.

Any changes in our fee policy, including fee schedules and any other contractual documents, will be updated towards the end of Term 3 each year to allow parents ample time to provide a term of notice if they wish to withdraw their children from the school.

Any changes in our fee policy will be updated on our website: www.taqwaschool.act.edu.au

Context

Fees, Levies, and Activities Charge collected by Taqwa School are used for the following purposes:

●     to provide essential resources and equipment for the classrooms, administration, cleaning and maintenance, swimming carnival, athletics carnival, excursions, sports, and other activities

(excluding Camp fees). If students break or lose any of the equipment provided, parents will be asked to purchase replacements.

●     to employ teaching, administrative and support staff

●     to supply educational subscriptions and software

●     Any other expenses deemed necessary by the board/principal

Taqwa School has specific policies on student code of conduct, parent code of conduct, excursions and co-curricular activities, use of technology and personal devices, and student illness. These policies are available upon request and must be adhered to by all students and guardians.

Responsibility for Student Welfare

Taqwa School is responsible for the welfare and supervision of students during school hours, school activities, and events. Parents/guardians are responsible for their child’s welfare outside of these times.

School Fee Structure

Table 1. Annual Fees for 2024

Table 2.Discounts for 2024

Table 3.Term Payments for 2024

Table 4. Deadlines for Payment of School Fees (K-8) for Continuing Students

Note: If a student joins the school in the middle of a term/semester, the Books & Stationery Charge, Excursions & Outdoor Activities Charge, and ICT Levy (if applicable) will be charged in full.

●     Registration Fee: New student applications attract a non-refundable $75.00 fee.

●     Admission Fee: Parents must pay a First Term fee of $1000 for new students upon successful completion of registration to secure their child’s place in the school

●     Term Fees are non refundable

●     Tuition Fee: $3200 for K-8

●     Books & Stationery Charge: $550 for K-8. It include all books and stationary, including software resources

●     Excursions & Outdoor Activities Charge: A charge of $250 is for swimming and athletics carnivals, excursions, and different sport activities which take place around the year. This charge is non refundable, and does not include Camp fees

●     Sibling Discount (KG-8): Tuition Fee discount of $600 will apply for each sibling, as shown in Table 2

●     School Bus Charge: School Bus charge per term is $950 to be paid at the start of the each term to be paid with the Term Fee

●     School Uniform: School uniforms are paid for separately

●     School Bank Account Detail: BSB: 062913 Account: 10997697 Reference: Child’s full name or billing identifier on Fee Statement

The fees are subject to annual review by the Taqwa School Board.

Non-payment of Fees

The onus of timely payment of school fees lies with the parents. In the event of non-payment of the school term fees by the deadline, the school has the right to un-enroll the student from the school.

All parents/guardians who sign the Enrolment Agreement are jointly and severally responsible for the payment of all fees and charges.

Late payment of fees will result in the following escalating consequences:

●     Application of interest on the overdue amount.

●     Issuance of a formal warning letter.

●     Suspension of the student until the overdue fees are paid.

●     Formal debt recovery action, which may include legal proceedings.

Recovery of Unpaid Fees

To ensure the viability of the school, Taqwa School is obligated to follow all methods to recover unpaid fees, including legal action. In such cases

a. families will be responsible for legal costs, direct debit rejection fees and any debt collection costs or other costs incurred

Refunds

The new student application fee, admission fee, and term fees are non-refundable. If a student discontinues with Taqwa School for any reason, the refunds will be processed and returned to the original payee in accordance with the discontinuation requirements.

If paid in advance for the whole year, fees are refundable pro-rata for the remaining terms of the calendar year. The curriculum levy and building maintenance levy are non-refundable. If any fees remain outstanding, they will be payable as per the normal payment terms and where appropriate, any fees in credit will be refunded. Library books, school property and all accessories are to be returned to the school before the last day of attendance.

Enrolments

Re-Enrolments of Year 7 Students

Year 6 Taqwa students wishing to continue to join High School (Year 7) are required to complete a High School Re-enrolment form by 30th November.

Late Enrolments

New students entering Taqwa School after the commencement of the term will be charged full fee for the term.

Extended Leave

Taqwa School does not give discounts or refunds of fees for Extended leave.

Discontinuation of Enrolment

Where a parent/guardian of a student intends to discontinue the student's enrolment, the School requires at least one term's written notice of the cancellation. The written notice to the Principal must be received at the School by 9.00 am on the first day of the final attending term. Any notice received after this time will render parents/carers liable for (another) full term of fees.

Parents/guardians are allowed to withdraw the enrolment of their children at the end of the school year without incurring a financial penalty, provided that notice is given within ample time after the notification of fees for the next school year.

At other times, penalties for withdrawal may still be valid.

Before finalising the cancellation of enrolment, the School will consult with both the parents/guardians and the student to discuss the reasons for the decision and explore any possible alternatives. This consultation aims to ensure that all parties have considered all aspects of the decision thoroughly.

Where the parent/guardian fails to give at least one term's notice, the school reserves the right to invoice the parent/guardian for one term's fees and/or levies in lieu of notice. After receiving written notice, parents/guardians may be invited to attend an exit interview.

If any fees remain outstanding, they will be payable as per the normal payment terms, and where appropriate, any fees in credit will be refunded. The school reserves the right to pursue all outstanding fees in accordance with the Compliance with Taqwa School’s Fees signed upon enrolment.

Library books, school property, and all accessories are to be returned to the School. Lost books, including library books, will be charged at a rate of $10 per book. This includes home readers. Other lost or damaged property will be charged at the rate of replacement for new. Students may be charged at the time of loss or damage when the school becomes aware or at the time of Discontinuation.

Cancellation of Contract

The Enrolment Agreement can be terminated by the Taqwa School in the following circumstances:

●     Late or non-payment of fees, which could include escalating consequences including a formal debt recovery action.

●     non-compliance with school policies

●     non-attendance of the student

Variations to Payment Schedule

Where a parent/guardian believes financial circumstances have arisen that will prevent or delay the payment of the school fee account, a variety of options are available:

a.  Extension of Time

If an extension is required, please contact the Principal prior to the due date. The Principal will review the request in accordance with the school's financial hardship policy.

b.  Payment Plans

All payment plans must ensure that the account is cleared prior to the last day of the school year or as negotiated with the Principal. Payment plans are subject to the school's financial hardship policy.

c.  Fee Concession

In cases of financial hardship, an application may be made for a fee concession. Concession applications are usually accepted at the commencement of each year or at any other time in exceptional cases. Concessions are issued for a maximum period of 12 months within a calendar year and are subject to the school's financial hardship policy.

A compassionate and just approach under the ethos and values of Taqwa School is used when reviewing applications.

Concession application forms are available from the office. Parents may be requested to supply supporting documents to attach to their application. Parents/Guardians who are granted Fee concession are required to provide evidence of ongoing financial hardship at the beginning of each term. All matters are dealt with on a confidential basis. Parents must not disclose the concession agreement to any parent or third party.

Parents/Guardians who apply for a fee concession must maintain concession attendance requirements. Students who take more than 5 consecutive days leave at any one time without a supporting medical certificate or take extended leave of greater than 5 days with or without principal approval will lose their concession entitlement.

Handling Misconduct and Disciplinary Actions

Taqwa School has established procedures for investigating allegations of student or parent misconduct and determining appropriate disciplinary actions. These procedures are designed to ensure a fair and transparent process for all parties involved.

1.  Investigation of Allegations:

●     Any allegations of misconduct will be investigated promptly and thoroughly by the school administration.

●     The investigation will follow the school's misconduct policy, which includes interviews with relevant parties, review of evidence, and documentation of findings.

2.  Disciplinary Actions:

●     Based on the findings of the investigation, appropriate disciplinary actions will be determined in accordance with the school's disciplinary policy.

●     Potential disciplinary actions may include warnings, suspension, or expulsion, depending on the severity of the misconduct.

●     The school will provide written notice to the parents/guardians detailing the findings of the investigation and the resulting disciplinary actions.

3.  Appeals Process:

Parents/guardians have the right to appeal disciplinary actions by submitting a written request to the Principal within 10 days of receiving the disciplinary notice.

The appeals process will follow the school's appeals policy, which includes a review of the investigation and disciplinary actions by an independent panel.

These policies are available upon request and must be adhered to by all students and guardians.

Responsibilities

Governance

It is the responsibility of the principal and the board of directors to ensure that a fair and equitable process is in place to monitor any increases to school fees and ensure that those members of the community who may be experiencing hardship receive information about variations to their schedule of school fee payments.

Principal

It is the responsibility of the Principal to consult with the school board to determine any changes in the fee structure of the school. The principal at his discretion may discuss with parents regarding non-payment of school fees or variations to the fee structure. All negotiations with parents in relation to fees will be conducted with the utmost transparency to ensure clear communication and understanding.

Administrative Officer

It is the responsibility of the Administrative Officer to ensure that prospective students are provided with up to date information regarding the fee structure of the school upon making an enquiry for enrolment. The Compliance with School Fees Form should be completed prior to commencing classes.

Updating Student Movement Register and Reporting

In accordance with the Education Act, the school will ensure that the Student Movement Register is updated regularly. Any changes in student enrolment status, including admissions, withdrawals, and transfers, will be reported as required by the Act. This includes timely updating of the register and submission of necessary reports to relevant authorities.

Parents

A Compliance with School Fees Form will be completed by the parents by providing all relevant information about the child. Parents are responsible for providing full disclosure of the child’s health issues if any at the time of enrolment. This will empower the school to create a safe learning environment for the children in the school. This form will be signed by the parent/s or guardian/s of the enrolling student. The person/s whose signature/s appears on the enrolment form will be the person/s held responsible for the payment of the school fees and charges for that particular student.

Parents are also obligated to provide the school with any court orders or other documents relevant to the student and to keep the school informed of any changes to such information. This includes but is not limited to legal custody arrangements and restraining orders. Requests for any variation to the payments of school fees must be made in writing to the School Principal: principal@taqwaschool.act.edu.au. Until the school receives correspondence the original arrangements will remain in place.

Provision for Online Delivery of Services

In the event of circumstances that prevent physical attendance on campus, such as COVID-19 lockdown periods, Taqwa School will deliver educational services online. The fees paid by the parents/guardians will continue to cover the costs associated with the provision of these services, ensuring that students receive uninterrupted access to their education.

Limitation of School Liability

Taqwa School is not responsible for the personal belongings of students, which remain the responsibility of the student and their parents/guardians.

Consent to the Enrolment Agreement

The enrolment process at Taqwa School is designed to ensure that the parents/guardians of the student provide clear and explicit consent to the terms and conditions of this Enrolment Agreement. The steps of the enrolment process are as follows:

1.                  Submission of Enrolment Form: Parents/guardians complete and submit the Enrolment Form, providing all necessary information about the student.

2.                  Review of Enrolment Form: The school reviews the Enrolment Form and supporting documents to determine eligibility.

3.                  Offer of Enrolment: If the student is eligible, the school issues an Offer of Enrolment to the parents/guardians.

4.                  Acceptance of Offer: Parents/guardians accept the Offer of Enrolment by signing this Enrolment Agreement and agreeing to the terms and conditions outlined herein.

5.                  Verification of Identity: Parents/guardians provide verification of identity, such as a copy of photo identification, to confirm their legal status as the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student.

6.                  Payment of Fees: Parents/guardians make the required payment of school fees as directed by the school.

General Provisions

Jurisdiction

This Enrolment Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Any disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the ACT.

Amendment

This Enrolment Agreement may only be varied or amended in writing signed by both parties. Any terms that the School wishes to be able to unilaterally change will be included in a policy and parents/guardians will be notified of such changes in advance.

Entire Agreement

This Enrolment Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any previous discussions, agreements, or understandings, whether written or verbal. No party may rely on any statement or representation not contained in this Agreement.

Severance

If any provision of this Enrolment Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed from the Agreement and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

No waiver of any term or condition of this Enrolment Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other term or condition. A waiver is only effective if it is in writing and signed by the waiving party.